Do I let my girls out to free range?

[Shortie]

No the wing feathers weren't clipped, which sounds like it was the problem.. Lets just say the girls were a 'my OH classic'... one minute we were talking about getting some, and then later that day he dissappears and comes back with them...

To say I needed a crash course in chicken keeping is an understatment

[Alice]

I don't know anything about keeping chickens, but I do know I see the fox going through my garden in broad daylight. He is not put off by the sight of me. If he was after ckickens I reckon he would still do it in broad day light. Some Grapes have lost chooks to the fox and as I remember most of it happened in the daytime. I think you would have to keep them fox proof day and night, or make a risk assessment of your day time chances, and live with that. Good luck with the chooks.

[JanieB]

Not chooks, but Mr Reynard also likes rabbit. My daughter often saw him on top of her garden shed in the daytime, eyeing up her childrens (free range) pet rabbit. Chelsea (name of said rabbit) would then have an unexpected incarceration back in her hutch.

[bendm]

hENS

No the wing feathers weren't clipped, which sounds like it was the problem.. Lets just say the girls were a 'my OH classic'... one minute we were talking about getting some, and then later that day he dissappears and comes back with them...

To say I needed a crash course in chicken keeping is an understatment

the're well easy to keep but security from foxes and errant dogs is obviously a must.Wing clipping stops them flying too high.they'll still be able to get on their perches easily,though.